We open to the sound of Beth (Gwyneth Paltrow) coughing. Title card lists it
as Day 2. She is in a airport lounge when she gets a call on her cell phone
. It is a man named John Neal saying she just had sex with him and left
without saying goodbye. Beth says she's sorry, she was afraid to miss her
flight. "Well in case I don't see you again, It was great to see you again."
John says. Beth echoes the sentiment. John mentions that if she wants to
contact him, she'll have to use the secure email address. She hangs up as
her flight is called and she pays her bar tab.
A montage ensues where we see several other people. A young man in Hong Kong
gets off a boat, sweating. He goes home to his family and his sister looks
at him concerned. In London, a model gets sick and goes back to her hotel
room. Hotel staff come into the room and find her dead on the bathroom floor
. On a plane, a businessman comes out of the bathroom with a pained
expression on his face. He is traveling back home to Tokyo. He is on a bus
when he collapses to the floor, convulsing. His death is captured on a
camera phone. The young man from Hong Kong, leaves his apartment, coughing
near several people in an elevator. He walks the streets, his vision getting
more hazy. He walks into traffic and is hit by a truck. Finally, in
Minnesota, Beth comes home to her husband Mitch (Matt Damon) and son Clark
and hugs her son.
DAY 3
Dr. Ellis Cheever (Laurence Fishburne) comes into work at the CDC. On the
way in, he passes a janitor Roger (John Hawkes) who he is on friendly terms
with due to the football pool they have. Roger asks Cheever about his son
since the school thinks he has ADHD. Roger asks if Cheever could look at him
but Cheever says he is not that kind of doctor. However, he knows some
people so he will try to refer Roger a good doctor for his son.
Mitch goes to pick up from Clark from school from what they think is a fever
. Mitch tells Clark he will beat it by Thanksgiving.
At a news office a blogger journalist, Allen (Jude Law) is talking to an
editor, Lorraine about the Tokyo bus incident. Allen thinks it may have to
do with mercury poisoning in fish worldwide. Lorraine says they don't have
the budget for this kind of freelance work but Allen says this story can go
worldwide in 24 hours. Lorraine says she will pass it to another editor.
Allen tells her he recorded this conversation and if she steals his story he
will sue her.
DAY 4
Beth is at home, getting worse. She stares at a cup of coffee and tries to
pick it up as Mitch talks about his day. She instead makes it fall off the
counter and shatter. Mitch comes to help clean it up, when Beth starts to
have a seizure. Mitch is scared, and he sees Clark at the doorway looking at
his mother dying. Mitch tells him to go upstairs as he calls 911.
At the hospital, Mitch tries to explain what happened and Beth's allergies
when she has another seizure and Mitch is pushed out of the room. A doctor
comes to see him later and tells him Beth died. Mitch is in shock and asks
to talk to her, not computing the news. The doctor tries to explain that his
wife might of picked something up in China but no health alerts there no
match to what she died of. The medical board is going to order an autopsy in
order to determine what killed her. Mitch is aghast and screams, "What
happened!"
Mitch is being driven home when he gets a call. His son is sick. He tells
the babysitter to call 911. When he gets home, the babysitter says Clark had
a headache so she put him to bed. By the time Mitch gets there, it is too
late. His son is dead.
DAY 5
In Switzerland, Dr. Lenoara Orantes (Marion Cotillard), goes to work at the
World Health Organization. She handles a briefing in which this unknown
virus has caused cases of infection in the U.S., China, London and Japan and
they need to make sure to be thorough in their investigation. She mentions
Beth as being the potential start of the infection.
Back in Hong Kong, the sister of the young man that was infected has
cremated his body and goes to take him away for burial via bus. A cleaning
lady is checking the bus when she finds the girl dead. Her brother infected
her too.
In Chicago, Beth's lover John Neal is being carried out on a stretcher. He
has been infected as well. His wife looks on in shock, wondering what is
wrong.
Two medical morticians do the autopsy on Beth, opening up her skull. They
notice something strange about her brain. One of the men asks if he should
take a sample. "Actually, I want you stand away from the table." The other
technician tells him. The technician tells his partner to call EVERYONE.
DAY 6
Mitch is taken back to the hospital and put under quarantine watch. His
daughter from his previous marriage, Jody, arrives. They talk on a phone.
Jody feels guilty of not being there when Clark died, but Mitch says it is
not her fault. In addition, if she had been, she could of been infected too.
She is all he has left. Mitch tells Jody to go home to her mother, but Jody
says she will not leave him. She is staying with him.
Meanwhile, Dr. Erin Mears (Kate Winslet) is being briefed by Cheever on her
job for the outbreak. She is to investigate and contain cases on infection.
If she needs anything she can call him, no questions asked.
Mears gets off a plane in Minnesota to be transported to a nearby CDC office
. She gives a briefing about the virus and the precaution they need to take.
One woman asks if they are panicking about something they know little of. "
We don't even know what to tell people to be afraid of." Mears notes that
the virus is a contagion of touch. So the littlest things people touch with
and interact with, including each other are potential harbors for infection.
The problem, Mears says, is the carriers and the number they will
potentially infect, the R-not number. Flu is usually one person. Polio, pre-
vaccine was between four and six. Until they know more, this virus' R-not
number could be much greater.
Two doctors, Ally Hextall (Jennifer Ehle) and David Eisenberg (Demetri
Martin) go into a secure bio lab and look at the samples taken from Beth's
body among others. Hextall says they need to send it to Sussman (Eliott
Gould).
Sussman is another doctor in a less secure bio medical facility then theirs.
He is leaving when he is accosted by Allen about accusations that this
virus is being manufactured as a potential profiting scheme by drug
companies. Sussman tells him to make an appointment and insults Allen's
journalism saying, "Blogging is graffiti with punctuation."
DAY 7
Cheever is met at the CDC doors by Homeland Security. He is briefed by their
liaison, Lyle Haggerty (Bryan Cranston). Homeland Security believes the
virus might be a terrorist action as it is the only way terrorists have not
tried to kill people. Cheever is intrigued by the theory but unconvinced.
Haggerty mentions that someone could try to weaponize Avian flu but Cheever
counters that by saying, "They don't need to. The birds are doing it for us."
A news report states that the school Clark attended is being closed after
three nurses and two other children die. A panic starts to form.
Mears goes to the AIMM offices where Beth worked. Many interacted with Beth
but before she left the country, so their fears are assuaged by Mears. Mears
notes none had direct contact with Beth after she came home. One remembers
Eric Barnes, another coworker, drove her home from the airport. Mears calls
him as he is on a bus. She tells him to get off as he is infected. He waits
at the stop until Mears arrives with a containment crew.
Mitch is being asked by a doctor about Beth. Mitch knows little of substance
. The doctor asks about her Chicago layover, and if Beth knew anyone there.
Mitch mentions that his wife was with John Neal before they married.
Realization hits Mitch. He asks if Neal is infected. The doctor is resistant
but eventually nods. Mitch is stunned that his wife was cheating on him.
Hextall and Eisenberg give a briefing to Cheever about the virus sample
taken from Beth's body. It latches onto the host cell, taking over
completely. The body doesn't know what to do and the virus continues to
attack. They noticed there are traces of Bat and Pig in the virus code so it
mostly originated from an infected bat. Understanding the severity of the
issue, Cheever orders Sussman to be shut down and their secure lab is the
only place research will be done. Hextall calls Sussman and reluctantly
tells him to shut down and destroy his samples.
DAY 8
Cheever briefs the CDC on the outbreak on cases of the virus worldwide. The
numbers of infected reach 80000+ and could reach as high as 267,000.
Allen continues to blog about the virus and how the government is conspiring
with the drug companies to turn a profit on tragedy. He claims that a drug
is available to treat the virus, but it is being suppressed by the CDC.
Dr. Orantes goes to Hong Kong. Her job is track the movements Beth made
while there. Her liaison is Sun Feng. Sun Feng is ambivalent as Hong Kong
being the focal point of the viral outbreak but Orantes concludes it is Beth
that started it all. After hearing several workers at a casino got sick
where Beth attended, Orantes tells Feng to get tapes of the security footage
. Feng mentions his village where he grew up is infected and his mother is
sick.
Meanwhile, Dr. Sussman defies orders and runs some further tests on the
virus samples.
DAY 12
Hextall briefs Cheever on Sussman's findings. He was able to make a living
stable version of the virus. He was able to do it by combining it with a bat
viral strain they didn't have. Now that they know what they are up against,
they can start testing vaccines. Cheever is pissed Sussman defied orders
and asks what he wants. Hextall says he just wants credit for his work. He
could of given the work to drug companies and made a fortune but he gave it
to the CDC instead.
The news report on the virus, now called MEV-1 and crediting Sussman for
discovering the findings. The news stresses that government states that it
will take potentially months for a full vaccine to be ready.
Allen is contacted by a news source. They want him to continue his
investigations on MEV-1 and the government's alleged involvement with the
problem. Allen agrees.
Back in Minnesota, still in quarantine, Mitch asks Mears if he is immune,
why they cannot use his blood to make a vaccine. Mears tells him even though
his intentions are noble, blood vaccines are tricky and time consuming to
make and are not guaranteed to work.
Mears travels to an inside stadium where they will place an virus ER. Mears
tells her liaison she will need three more locations like it.
Mears calls Cheever. Cheever asks if she is fine.
Mitch is at home with Jory when there is a knock at the door. It is a boy
Jory likes, Andy. Andy has come to pay his respects with flowers for the
deaths of Beth and Clark. Mitch says that while he is touched by the gesture
, but he cannot let him in because he could infect them. Jory is crushed,
but Mitch tells her they have to be very careful.
We see a flashback of Beth in the Hong Kong casino, enjoying herself with
several people. She is playing a casino game when she is asked by a man, the
Japanese businessman who died on the bus, to blow on his chip for good luck
. She does so.
DAY 14
Mears wake up coughing. She goes into the bathroom and takes her temperature
, praying to god that she is not infected. But the symptoms point to it. She
calls the front desk and tells them to track down everyone she came in
contact with to be tested.
Mears calls Cheever and tells him she's infected. Cheever says he will do
everything he can to get her home, but she should stay in her room for now.
They hang up and Cheever is stunned that Mears is infected. He sent her
there, so he feels responsible.
Mitch goes to a funeral home and learns due to his wife and son dying due to
the virus, the funeral home will not accept the bodies for burial. Mitch is
shocked but the funeral director says there is nothing they can do. Mitch
talks to his mother in law and discusses cremation but the mother in law
wants her family to be buried together. His mother in law said Beth made
mistakes by cheating but she did love Mitch. He has to forgive her. Jody
texts Andy, telling him how sad her dad is.
We see another flashback of Beth in the Hong Kong casino. She calls John
Neal saying she can get an earlier flight so they can meet up. She
accidentally leaves her phone at the bar and a woman picks it up and hands
it to her. It was the European model that was found dead in London. We see a
table where she had sat and had drinks with several people. A waiter picks
up the glasses. It is the young man that later died. That is how Beth
infected them both.
Orantes notices this all from the security footage and realizes that Beth is
"Patient Zero" for the entire outbreak. Orantes asks about Feng's mother.
Feng says she died. Orantes says she is sorry. They go to leave and Feng
makes a call. On the way to their destination, Feng pulls her out of the car
into a van. His village is dying, and he is going to hold her for ransom
for the vaccine doses when they are first produced. Orantes sees the
remaining villagers. Most are children.
Cheever attempts to get Mears out of Minnesota but hits roadblocks on every
turn. The transport he was going to use is being used for a Congressman, as
he learns from Haggerty. After that, all air travel is grounded. The
president is being moved underground, and congress is working online. There
is nothing Cheever can do.
Allen is blogging live. He is apparently sick with the virus. He shows he is
taking the drug Forstina, and dips it into his water and drinks it. He
tells his audience that if he is here tomorrow than it worked.
Cheever speaks to his wife Aubrey (Sanaa Lathan) and tells her how bad he
feels Mears is going to die and there is nothing he can do. Cheever then
tells her to leave Chicago and not tell a soul where she is going. As he
hangs up, he sees that Roger was standing there the whole time. Roger is
disgusted with Cheever noting everyone has loved ones.
Aubrey goes shopping for supplies when she is called by her friend who she
was supposed to meet for dinner. Aubrey reveals the real reason she can't
come, urging her to not repeat it to anyone.
DAY 18
Around the U.S. people are listening to Allen and are lining up for the drug
to suppress MEV-1 that Allen has alleged works. However, demand becomes
insatiable and people begin to riot and loot all over the country.
Mitch goes for groceries with Jody in a looted store. A woman coughs nears
him and he tells Jody they need to leave. They get to the car without food.
They attempt to leave the state but the National Guard is shutting down the
roads. Even though they are not infected, no one is getting through. They
are forced to turn around and go back home.
Allen has been running around town in a bio suit seeing the destruction and
decline of human civilization in the aftermath of the outbreak. He gets home
to see Lorraine there, begging for the medicine he says helps, because she
is pregnant. Allen says he has none due to a break-in but he will get her
some as soon as possible.
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Meanwhile, in Minnesota, Dr. Mears is being told she cannot be moved out.
She is close to death. Next to her, a man is complaining of being cold but
cannot be given any more blankets. Mears attempts to comfort him and give
him her coat but cannot reach far enough. It falls right next to her bed as
she shudders.
Cut to Mears in a plastic body bag. She is dead. Her liaison, Dave is nearby
, holding flowers, trying his best to pay his respects considering she will
be part of a mass grave. Dave notes they ran out of body bags days ago and
they attempted to get some from Canada but they were unwilling to help.
Dr. Cheever goes on TV with Dr. Gupta talking about the virus and its
implications. Cheever notes coordination is a problem because each state has
its own health organization and protocols. Allen is also on via satellite
and when it is his turn to speak he goes on the attack, blaming the CDC and
WHO for being in bed with the drug companies. Allen surmises that up to 1
billion could actually be infected and/or die before it is over. He also
reveals that Aubrey's friend posted on facebook about him warning her to
leave Chicago. Cheever cannot respond.
Cheever talks to Haggerty. Haggerty says he has now just become a scapegoat.
Furthermore, they have no choice to investigate the claims he leaked
sensitive information to his wife. Cheever nods, understanding.
DAY 21
Eisenberg gets an email in the lab. MEV-1 has mutated in Africa, becoming
more deadly.
Eisenberg and Hextall begin clinical trials with monkeys to test vaccine
variants. None work. They wind up bagging up a bunch of dead monkeys.
We see the world practically abandoned at this place. Empty streets,
airports, gyms etc. Everyone is staying in, afraid.
We see posters of Allen posted around the cities. One says prophet. The
other says Profit (probably signifying he too is in it for the money).
We see a shrine for Lorraine. She and her child died. Allen looks at it
stoically. He apparently was unable to get her medicine in time (or possibly
did nothing).
DAY 26
Mitch goes for an MRE handout when they announce they have run out. Riots
ensue, and Mitch saves a woman from getting her food stolen.
Mitch goes home and looks outside. He hears gunshots in his neighbors house.
Looters come out. They apparently killed the family inside. Mitch tries to
call 911, but gets the runaround with an automated message. He hangs up.
DAY 29
Mitch goes around his neighbors to look for them. Finding none, he breaks
into one of their homes and steals a shotgun for his and Jody's protection.
When he gets home he sees Jody is gone and notices snow prints moving away
from the house.
Jody is with Andy making snow angels. Andy tries to kiss her saying she is
immune, and he is healthy so there should be no problem. Just before he does
, Mitch comes up and pulls him off her, telling him to go home. He tells
Jody to get up and they go home.
Back at the CDC lab, Hextall is talking to Cheever. She notes even with a
complete vaccine it would take months for it to be viable for use, and many
more would die in the meantime.
Hextall notices Monkey #57 has no symptoms. It is a viable variant. Deciding
to be proactive, she infects herself then uses the vaccine. She seems to be
fine and goes to the hospital and visits her infected father. She tells him
she tested it on herself and she's okay. Her father cries, proud of his
daughter and her work. It has lead her to the Nobel prize. It can be assumed
she cures her father.
We see another news report. The cure has been fast tracked for approval and
production. The first batch can be ready in about 90 days.
DAY 131
Aubrey is at home when is broken into by looters. They want the MEV-1
Vaccine and think Cheever has it. Aubrey says no, they had to wait like
everyone else. Cheever rushes home. Aubrey was not killed. Cheever is afraid
they touched her (as they are just about to receive the vaccine) but Aubrey
denies it.
Allen goes to see his news contact. Allen is still adamant that the vaccine
should not be used. He has 12 million people who listen to him every day.
Allen sees a garbage man and gets paranoid. He runs off. He was right to do
so. His contact sold him out to the police in a sting operation. He is being
arrested for securities fraud and manslaughter (probably for Lorraine)
among other things.
DAY 133
Haggerty goes on television doing a vaccine lottery. Since they do not have
enough yet they will hold lotteries on birthdays to see who gets it first.
Cheever finds Hextall on a computer and tells her to take a break. Hextall
says she cannot, not when he is being investigated, Mears died, and her
father nearly died treating the sick. She clearly feels she doesn't deserve
all the credit. She had plenty of help.
Back in Minnesota, Mitch and Jody watch the lottery. Her birthday didn't
come up so she is stuck in isolation for 144 days. She relates her woes to
Andy.
Back in Hong Kong, in Sun Feng's village, Orantes has been teaching an art
class. Feng pulls her away. It's time to make the exchange. They meet the
contact in a graveyard. 100 shots for Orantes. At the airport, her contact
reveals the shots they gave over were placebos and gives her the real one.
The Chinese told them to do it. This kind of action has happened a lot
lately and they don't cater to terrorists. Orantes is horrified that they
would condemn a village of mostly children to death and runs off.
The lead detective tells Allen they looked at his blood work. He was never
sick with the virus. He lied about his condition. And now he has millions of
people against the vaccination that could save them, instead using a drug
that probably doesn't work at all. They are going to put Allen in jail and
his money he made (4.5 million) will be locked away too. "If I could lock up
your computer, I would" the cop says. Another cop comes in. Allen
apparently has made bail. Allen leaves, defiant to the end.
Cheever is presented two doses to Haggerty. One for him, one for his wife.
Cheever says his wife will want to do them together. Instead, he gives one
to Roger's son. Cheever explains where shaking hands originated; It came
from showing you didn't have a weapon in your hand and you meant no harm.
Roger thanks Cheever, then shakes his hand. Cheever puts on the vaccine
bracelet to keep the charade going. He goes home and gives the other shot to
his wife.
DAY 135
Hextall and Eisenberg go to work into the lab, putting the new virus, MEV-1
on ice, hopefully never to be seen again.
Mitch goes to a shopping mall, being stopped at several checkpoints to make
sure he is immune.
Jody finds a box in her from from her dad telling her to be ready at 8.
Inside is a dress.
Jody goes downstairs and sees her dad made up the living room for a
makeshift prom night since she is unable to leave the house yet. There is a
knock on the door. It is Andy, who got the vaccine. He is going to be her
date for the night.
Mitch is in the bedroom, looking for his camera, when he turns it on and
sees pictures of Beth. He breaks down.
Mitch goes downstairs to take picture of Jody and Andy. Mitch watches them
dance. In that moment, there is hope.
A final flashback occurs. We see what caused the global epidemic. A
construction crew from Beth's company AIMM was cutting down trees. That
caused some bats to fly out. One bat was infected. It grabbed a piece of
banana and perched underneath a pig's pen. It dropped the banana piece which
had his DNA on it. A pig ate it and was eventually slaughtered at market
for food. A chef handles the pig, touching the inside of the infected pig's
mouth with his hands. He goes out to dining room and poses in a picture with
Beth holding hands, transferring the virus to her and starting the chain of
events. A title card states it is Day 1.
